Strip decollating machine



'Ct 24 i944 F. H. MosHERv STRIP DEOLLATING MACHINE Filed Aug; .1. 1940Miented Get. 24, 1944 s'rnn nscom'rmc moms Ferdinand H. Mosher, NiagaraFalls. N. Y., as-

signor to American Sales Book Company, Inc., Niagara Falls, N. Y., acorporation of Delaware application Aug-ne i, 1940, serial. No. 349,357

1o claims. rc1. er1-2.1)

This invention relates to improvements in machines or apparatus foreifecting' the separation or decollation of strips of sheet materialsuch as paper and the like that have been assembled in relativelysuperposed relation. While the improved apparatus is adapted for thedecollation of assembled strips of various natures, it has -beendesigned andvis Vherein disclosed for use in separating record strips ofpaper and the like that have been assembled in manlfolding trans; ferrelation with each other and with long continuous strips of carbon ortransfer paper.

It is a general object of they invention to provide an improved stripdecollating apparatus that is simple in construction and operation andyet n is effective in separating the strips from each vidualpacks, whileat the same time, avoiding tearing ordamage to the strips when feedingthereof is stopped by the writing machine.

According to another feature of improvement ofthe invention thefrictional strip engaging and separating members are in the form ofconstantly travelling belts arranged to lightly frictionally engage withthe strips to cause separation and folding thereof, the belts beingarranged to maintain the strips substantially straight transversely atthe points of fold and to avoid longitudinalA flutes, depressions orridges such as might interfere with the free refolding of the strips.

Other objects of the invention will be in part pointed out in thefollowing detailed description of an illustrative but preferredembodiment of the invention, and will be in part obvious as thedisclosure proceeds.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a more comprehensive disclosure of the nature, objects andadvantages of the invention, reference is had to the following detaileddescription and to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary partially diagrammatic side elevation -of theimproved strip separating apparatus as used in connection with atabulating machine of known construction.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view .of the strip separating apparatus.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged Alongitudinal vertical section of the apparatusshown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detailed section' and elevation of one ofthe rotarysupporting and driving members for the belts; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of an assembly of record andtransfer strips, such as used in the tabulating machine.

Referring to the drawing for a detailed de-i scription of theillustrative embodiment, the strip separating apparatusindicatedgenerally at 6 is shown as being used in connection with a tabulatingmachine l. The tabulating machine or similar writing machine may be ofknown existing design and is equipped with a cylindrical rotary platenover which the record assembly 9 of record and transfer strips passes.Suitable writing mechanism including type characters is arranged to makeinscriptions upon the record assembly supported upon the platen.

Assembly feeding mechanism it is mounted upon the tabulating machine forfeeding the record strips from-a zigzag folded supply pack il over astrip guide l2 and thence around the platen to the feeding mechanism.From the feeding mechanism the strip assembly passes over an upper guidei3 from which it passes to the strip separating mechanism. The feedingmechanism ill may be of any well known type, that shown schematicallyincluding a series of feed pins mounted upon a exible traveling chainmember and adapted to enter feed apertures provided in the strips; A pinfeed mechanism of the typedisclosed in the Mabon Patent No.

2,171,003 issued August 29, 1939, is suitable for this purpose.

While the record assembly used may be variously formed, that shown is ofthe nature dis;

l closed in the Mabon patent above referred to 'vals with transverseweakened severance lines I 6 upon which the assembly may be zigzagfolded into the supply pack. Longitudinal feed bands I1 are providedalong one or both margins of the record strips, being separatedtherefrom by longitudinal weakened severance lines I8. The assemblystrips may be secured together at the feed bands at intervals along theassembly. A

Since it is desirable to separate the feed bands I1 from the stripsprior to decollation of the assembly, a feed band slitting or separatingdevice I9, shown diagrammaticallyin Fig. 1, may be utilized. Such a feedband separating device is disclosed in the Mabon Patent No. 2,208,994.The strip assembly is shown as having two record strips with aninterleavedcarbon strip, but it will be'understood that as many recordstrips as desired may be used with the necessary number of carbon stripsand the decollating apparatus can be made with a suflicient number ofpairs o f separating belts to accommodate the number of strips of theassembly.

The decollating apparatus has a suitable frame including upright framemembers 20, longitudinal frame members 2l and transverse tie rods 22.Mounted in suitable bearings in the upper frame members 2I areaplurality of rotary supporting members that may be made of wood orequivalent material. These rotary supporting members 23 are arranged inpairs the members of which are slightly spaced apart, and each memberhas a plurality of spaced grooves 24 forming seats for the stripseparating lbelts 25. The bottoms of these grooves may be crownedslightly providing supporting and driving surfaces for the belts.

Mounted in appropriate bearings inthe lower longitudinal frame members2I are lower rotary supporting members 26 for the belts 25. The lowerrotary members are also arranged` in pairs similar to the upper rotarymembers 23 and are provided with belt grooves 24 similar to those in theupperv supportingmembers. The belts 25 are al1 of vsimilar constructionand are preferably of materialadapted to have light frictional actionupon theassembly strips. These belts may be made of rubber, either inthe nature of rubber bands without a textile fabric base whereby theyare readily extensible, or with a fabric base covered or impregnatedwith-rubber. The belts 25 have elongated reaches between the upper andlower rotary supporting members, and the inner elongated reaches of eachpair run in the salme direction and are spaced apart a short distance toAform .passageways 21 in which the respective assembly strips arereceived. These inner reaches of the belts are spaced apart slightlysoas to receive the respective strips in free relation without grippingthe strips, but the surfaces of the belts will run in light frictionalengagement with the strips so as to urge them forwardly and downwardlythrough the passageways.

There are preferably a plurality of belts 25 for each assembly strip,the pairs being spaced apart longitudinally of the rotary supportingmembers l 23 and 26 so as to provide direct engagement with .each stripat laterally spaced parts thereof. Also, the strip engaging reaches ofthe belts 25 are poat opposite sides or surfaces of the strips. -It willi be noted further that the elongated reaches of the belts at oppositesides of the passageways 21 are respectively substantially in alignmenttransversely of the path of the strips. In this manner the strips aremaintained in flat or straight conwardly 4through the passageways 21.

dition transversely thereof as they move down- In other words,longitudinal bending of the strips to form longitudinal flutes, ridges,etc., is entirely avoided. This arrangement, as will be later seen,promotes the refoldI-ig of the separate strips in. separate zigzagpacks.

The upper rotary supporting members 23 of each pair are interconnectedfor rotation in unison by means of intermeshing toothed gears 2l. Also,these upper rotary supporting members are connected for power drive to asmall electric motor 28 by means of a driving belt 30 engaging groovedriving pulleys 3l connected to the extend lng ends of one of thesupporting shafts of each pair of rotary supporting members 23. Thuseach pair of belt supporting and driving members is individually drivenand the members of each pair are driven together in unison so as todrive the belts of each pair at the same speed.

Positioned beneath each of the passageways 21 for the record strips is areceiving compartment for such strips, including a bottom 32 and uprightstrip confining members 33. The respective passageways 21 are positionedintermediate the opposite sides of the receiving compartments.

When it is desired to separate the strips of an assembly, the recordstrips Il are threaded downwardly into the outer passageways 21 whilethe .carbon strip I5 is threaded into the intermediate `and tending tourge them downwardly toward the receiving compartments. As the writingon the strip assembly continues and the strips are fed forwardly theyare urged downwardly through the passageways 21 due to the lightyielding engagement of the belts upon the strips.

Since the passageways 21 are positioned intermediate the opposite sidesof the receiving compartments for the record strips, said strips arecaused to be refolded in zigzag packs 3l. This refolding is accomplishedby the joint action of the belts, by gravity, and by the -transversecreases in the strips formed by the original folding thereof in thesupply pack II-. Since there is only a light frictional engagement ofthe belts with the strips, the belts can continue their movement whenthe strips have been stopped by action of the feeding mechanism of thetabulator.` But there is a constant urging of the strips forwardly bythe light frictional sliding engagement of the belts, this beinginsufcient to cause any tearing orv other damage to the strips.

Sincevthe carbon strips ordinarily are of the one-time type, it is notnecessary to refold them in zigzag packs as in the case of the recordstrips, and a receptacle or receptacles may be provided for them-beneath the receiving compartment for the record strips. In' case it isdesired to refold the carbon strip this can be done in thesame manner asdescribed for the record strips.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction anddifferent embodiments of the invention could be made without departingfrom the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in theabove description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim i as new and desire tosecure by letters Patent is: 1. In an apparatus of the characterdescribed,

in combination, a plurality of travelling exible strip separating beltshaving elongated reaches positioned for frictional engagement with theopposite surfaces of a plurality of long continuous strips forseparating and disposing said strips in separate parts, means forcausing said traveling separating belts to have light yielding orsliding forwardly directed frictional engagement with the respectivestrips for yieldingly urging the latter forwardly, and means for drivingsaid travelling belts in unison.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination,` aplurality of travelling exible strip separating belts having elongatedreaches positioned for frlctional engagement with the opposite surfacesof a plurality of long continuous strips having transverse fold linesweakened to folding resistance for separating and disposing said stripsin separate parts, said belts being arranged in pairs, the belts ofwhich are positloned at oppositesides of the respective strips, and thepairs being spaced apart laterally of the strips with the said elongatedreaches thereof respectively substantially aligned transversely of thestrip path to facilitate strip folding, means for driving saidtravelling belts in unison, and strip receiving compartmentsrespectively positioned below said pairs of belts into which the stripsare respectively directed by said belts to be folded along said foldlines into zigzag folded condition.

3.' In an apparatus for decollating long continuous assembled strips, incombination, a plurality of flexible travelling belts arranged in pairs,the belts of each pair having elongated reaches running side by side inthe same direction and being spaced apart to form passageways in whichthestrips are respectively freely received for frictional engagementwith the belts, and means for causing said pairs of traveling belts tohave light yielding or sliding forwardly directed frictional engagementwith the respective strips for yieldingly urging the latter forwardly.

e. In an apparatus for decollating long continuous assembled strips, incombination, a plurality of exible travelling belts arranged in pairs,the belts of each pair having elongated reaches running side by sideinthe same direction and being spaced apart to form passageways in whichthe strips are respectively .freely received for frictional engagementwith the belts, said .reaches of the respective pairs of belts beingpositioned substantially opposite to each other at opposite sides ofsaid passageways and the pairs being spaced apart laterally of thestrips with the said elongated belt reaches at opposite sides of saidpassageways respectively substantially aligned transversely of the strippath to facilitate strip folding, means for driving said belts inunison, certain of said assembled strips having transverse fold linesweakened to folding resistance, and strip receiving compartmentsrespectively positioned below-said pairs of belts into which the stripsare respectively directed by said belts to be folded along said foldlines into zigzag folded condition.

5. In an apparatus for decollating long.con tinuous assembled strips, incombination, a plurality of flexible travelling belts .arranged inpairs, the belts of each pair having elongated reaches runningdownwardly side by side and being spaced apart to form passageways inwhich the strips are respectively freely received for frictionalengagement with the belts to effect strip advancement, certain of saidassembled strips having transverse fold lines weakened to foldingresistance, and strip receiving compartments positioned below said beltsand the elongated reaches thereof in which the strips emerging from saidpassageways are respectively directed by said belts to be folded alongsaid fold lines into zigzag folded condition.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, aplurality of flexible strip separating travelling belts arranged inpairs, the belts of each pair having elongated reaches runningdownwardly side by side and being spaced apart to form passageways `inAwhich strips having transverse fold lines weakened to foldingresistance are respectively freely received for frictional engagementwith the belts to effect strip advancement, said reaches of therespective pairs of belts being positioned substantially Aopposite toeach other at opposite sides of said passageways and the pairs beingspaced apart laterally of the strips with the said elongated reachesthereof respectively substantially aligned transversely of the strippath to facilitate strip folding, means for driving said belts inunison, and strip receiving compartments positioned below said belts andthe elongated reaches thereof in which the strips emerging from saidpassageways are respectively directed by said belts to be folded alongsaid fold lines into zigzag folded condition.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, aplurality of iiexible strip separating travelling belts arranged inpairs, the belts of each pair having elongated reaches running side byside in the same direction and being spaced apart to form passageways inwhich the strips are respectively freely received for frictionalengagement with the belts, said reaches of the respective pairs of beltsbeing positioned substantially opposite to each other at opposite sidesof said Dassageways and extending downwardly to conduct the strips in adownward course, rotary supporting and driving members for the belts ofeach said pair interconnected for rotation in unison, and rotarysupports foi` the extremities of said belts opposite to said rotarydriving members.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, aplurality of flexible travelling strip separating belts arranged inpairs, the belts of each said pair having elongated reaches runningdownwardly and having their strip engaging surfaces in opposing relationso as to form downwardly directed passageways in which the strips arerespectively. received for frictional engagement with said belts, therebeing a plurality of said pairs of belts for each laterally of thestrips, upper and lower rotary supporting members for said beltsarranged in pairs for the respective pairs of belts for each strip, saidrotary members of one pair for each strip being interconnected forrotation in unison and being driven to effect operation of the belts.

v9. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, aplurality of flexible travelling strip separating belts arranged inpairs, the belts of each said pair having elongated reaches runningdownwardly and having their strip engag-` ing surfaces in opposingrelation so as to form downwardlydirected passageways in which thestrips are respectively received for frictional engagement with saidbelts, there being a plurality of said pairs of belts for-each stripspaced apart laterally of the strips', upper and lower rotary supportingmembers for said belts arranged in pairs for the respective pairs ofbelts for each strip spaced apart tional engagemelt 1 stripbeing.intox-amineetenr for rotation in unison and' being" 'drivento`uillerizionof the beltsi...

and strfnpreivngfeompartments respectively positioned heiowisadof-mtai'ysupporting g meximers.' ofalowep rtary spporting rumaenien@ the,Y

tobeioidedin the Commitments.

traveling frietionalmexnbe'rs positionediorf 1 veiyfwifn@pinning4 oflong continuous six-ips `forseparating and posing saidfstrips inseparate parts, strip feeding mechanism for. feeding an assembly of saideoniunuousstripsl-with an intermittent or halting

